1 The Start

A boy named Nine with hair as dark as chocolate and an eye that gave an innocent golden glow while the other shine a blue, sat in the corner of the cold damp room. A room with boarded windows so light couldn't shine through. A room with 2 beds that had a metal bed frame which was old and rusted. The sheets were ripped and looked as if they could barely keep someone warm and the mattress looked so worn that it makes the floor look comfortable. The wallpaper was just as old as everything else in the room. It was ripped and had holes in it. The floor was all tiles and some peeling off. There was debris everywhere from parts of the ceiling that had fallen off due to water damage. The boy slept in this room every night like it was normal.

Nine wore a long torn white gown, completely covered with dirt, stains, and his own blood from cutting himself on sharp objects that laid on the ground. He had no socks or shoes either, which made it worse. He walked everywhere on the cold tile floors with nothing to protect him. Nine wasn't the only one either; A little girl named Eleven shared a room with him and wore the same thing with no shoes or socks.

Nine watched as Eleven held a metal bucket under the leaky roof which looked like it could collapse any minute. Eleven looked at the boy and used her hands to speak, not letting a word come out of her mouth 'We will drink lots of water. Let's hope everyone else got the same amount. If not, we can share with them' Nine nodded in agreement. Eleven was someone Nine looked up to. Whenever he feared being picked on by others, she protected him. She always had his back and would even sing him to sleep some nights when it was safe to. He wasn't the only one who looked up to her either. The others admired her for taking care of them when they got sick. She was always the one to go out her way to keep everyone safe and for that, she was special in everyone's eyes. She was the brave one.

Eleven picked the bucket up once it was full. She struggled as she tried putting it down by the door and out of the middle of the floor but she tripped over her own feet and dropped it. A loud thump could be heard as she fell along with the bucket of water "Ah-!" she yelped as the water went everywhere along the cold tile ground. Nine's eyes widen with worry as he ran to go help her up.

Heavy footsteps were heard coming down the hall. Eleven's face was filled with fear as she turned around to hold on to Nine tightly "Shhh... it's okay" Nine was just as scared and gripped onto her gown tightly, hiding his face in her chest. The door to their room swung open with a loud bang as it hit against the wall. The children jumped, startled, but kept ahold of one another as a man walked in. Footsteps came closer, each step sending chills down the children's spines. Nine looked up at Eleven seeing her eyes well with tears before kissing his forehead like she knew what was to come. Nine's eyes filled with shock as he noticed the enormous man, covered in blood, and the mask on his face. A mask that had a sharp smile carved into it and laughing eyes. He grabbed Eleven by her hair and pulled her away from Nine. Scared and stuck still, Nine didn't know what to do. He watched as his friend got taken away by the masked man and into the darkness of the halls. He reached for her as if he could grab her but it was far too late. He heard her screams echo as it dragged her down the silent halls. Nine sat there for a second, lowering his arm slowly.

He was shaking, fear-filled his heart, and all he could think about was the way the man looked. The blood, the man's mask, the smile with happy eyes as if the man was a happy one. You would never think such a cheerful face could do horrible things like this. Nine sat in silence, he knew all too well of what was going to happen. Nine covered his mouth tightly, feeling tears fill his eyes, but he had to hold them back. He shook his head quickly; he knew crying will only make him end up just like Eleven, sad to say.

It was an hour later but to the boy; it felt like a few minutes. The man came back staring at the young boy who was still stuck in the same place, holding his knees to his chest, and hiding his face in it. The man threw something down on the floor in front of the boy. Nine heard it and flinched from the sudden thud by his feet. Slowly, he moved his head back as his golden eyes peeked from the safe place of his arms. An arm is what he saw. An arm with soft hands attached, hands of a caring person. The hands that Nine knew all too well.

"Eat it", a deep heavy voice rung from the man with the mask. A voice so strong it could bring anyone down and make them feel as if they are drowning in the abyss with no hope of surviving. A voice so deep, it weighed heavily on your heart, disrupting the beat pattern, and making it feel as if your heart would stop any minute. A voice that is so forceful that one command would make you feel as if your life is on the line if not followed.

Nine, with no hope, felt his tears flow down his face but they heard not one whimper from his mouth. His small hands reached and grabbed the arm of the one who cared most about him. He felt his body trembling. His eyes so filled with sorrow, he couldn't see a thing. All he could think about as he places his mouth against the smooth skin was Eleven. How Eleven was holding him not too long ago. How she was getting water for everyone to drink. How she kissed his forehead like everything was going to be okay even when she was scared herself. Now, look at where she was. Dead and killed by the happy man. Is this what happens when your kind? The boy wondered.

His mouth on the arm, he bit down drawing a little blood, making him sick. He glanced up at the man, eyes pleading to stop but the man just stared. Nine felt his eyes digging through him as if he was the one getting torn apart and eaten, yet he couldn't see the man's real eyes through the mask. Nine continued until part of the skin was torn off, blood going down his chin. Still, the man wasn't satisfied as he waited in the doorway, staring into the boy's soul. Once the boy fully swallowed, he turned around, shutting the door as his heavy footsteps gone quieter. Silence filled the room.

Nine threw up on the ground, his tears mixing with it. He crawled over to his corner, his safe corner, struggling to make it there. Pulling his head down on his knees he cried every tear he built up.